End of Summer Reading

I did not seem to do as much reading in July and August as I did in June. Either that, or I am failing to remember a few reads. Either way, here is a brief review of the books I chose to read to end my summer.

J.K. Rowling - Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows

I ended June/started July with some good ol' HP. I chose to re-read the final book in the series so that I could prepare for part 2 of the final movie. The movie came out in mid-July. I believe we went to see it on July 17th, a Sunday afternoon.

Anyway, though I certainly knew what to expect in both the book and the movie, I enjoyed reading it as much as I did the first time. It's such a magical series. Anyone who hasn't given it a chance really, really should. It's never too late, and you're never too old to enjoy Harry's world. Maybe the first 2-3 books wouldn't get your goat quite as much (especially the first two, who weren't even close to as dark as the later books) but I am certain by the close of the series, you'll be wishing for more, like I was. STILL AM!

In fact, I'm not sure that I will ever get over the loss of Harry Potter. I literally grew up reading this book series. My granny gave me the first book just a few weeks after I turned 12. The final novel was released in the summer of 2007, when I was newly 21. Amazing! That's 9 years of Potter goodness. So, 13 years if you count up until this year's final movie. Sigh. It's hard to move on!

Overall, I was very pleased with how the series ended. I remember in '07, gobbling the book up in a single weekend, desperate yet reluctant to reach the end. I ADORED the glimpse into the future that is included at the end of the book, and I loved that they included it in the movie.

Carolyn Haines - Touched

This book was WILD. It is told from the point of view of a 16 year old girl who has been recently sold to her husband, and it is set in a fictional Mississipi town in 1926. The town is incredibly religious and straight-laced, and men definitely call the shots. Our narrator, Mattie, is trying so hard to be the perfect little wife to her husband, Elika, who regularly beats her when she does something he does not like. That was very hard to get through, not gonna lie.

Mattie soon develops a friendship with the town outcast, JoHanna, and her daughter Duncan. JoHanna and Duncan do not dress like the other women in town, nor do they act or speak the same. They are often shunned and ridiculed for being different and choosing to stand out. JoHanna's husband, Will, encourages JoHanna's and Duncan's personalities, much to the town's chagrin, but is still a respected man in town.

The story was beautifully written and had me captivated...especially when it starts to get supernatural! Duncan, a spirited and happy 9 year old, is randomly struck by lightning while dancing outdoors (an unlawful act, as dancing was a big no-no). She is pronounced dead, and our narrator is heartbroken. Then, all of a sudden, Duncan wakes on the spot! Of course the townspeople assume she is possessed, or some such other awful thing, because how could she be alive when she was dead not just minutes ago!?

The book gets even more fascinating when it's discovered that little Duncan can now seem to predict the future...through her dreams. The dreams are usually upsetting and involve various people in the town drowning. Two have come true so far. She wants to warn people, and JoHanna supports this, feeling that no other deaths can occur, even though she knows the risks. The town already thought them to be sinful, horrid people. Now...it's even worse. Meanwhile, Mattie is constantly on the fence, trying to be a friend and trying to be a good, obedient wife. The story is great, albeit unusual.

Debbie Macomber - Dakota Born

This was another of my fluff books! The main character moves to a North Dakota town to leave behind her failure-to-launch ex who will never propose, no matter how much she craves it. Her family lived for generations in North Dakota, and a job to be a school teacher opens up. Conveniently, she has a teaching degree that has not really gone to use and the need for a change.

She soon becomes very involved in the small town and helps tremendously to build it back up economically and emotionally, as the recent drops in the economy had begun to take its toll. It needed her newness, she needed its safety. And it doesn't hurt that a local farmer is gorgeous and single and...you know me and my small town romance books! This was book one in a series of three... I gotta get back on it!

Nora Roberts - Three Sisters Trilogy: Dance Upon the Air; Heaven and Earth; Face the Fire

When we went down to Florida in August, my mom brought a bag of paperback books. JACKPOT! I chose book one in this trilogy for a nice read by the ocean...and was instantly hooked. The series is about three women who are all witches, descended from a trio of witches (the Three Sisters) that lived in this area centuries ago.

Book one follows Nell, a woman using a fake name after having faked her death to escape an incredibly abusive husband. She soon finds comfort on the island as a chef at a local bakery inside a bookstore. The bookstore's owner is the witch who patiently teaches Nell what her history is all about and how they are intertwined with one another. The book introduces the third witch as well, who is a police officer on the island with her brother. Nell and the brother soon fall in love. The book is a great mix of supernatural, romance, and mystery.

Book two follows Ripley, the cop/witch. She is very reluctant to submit to her powers, preferring to live as normal a life as possible, until she meets Mac. Mac has come to the island to study the history of the place and the Three Sisters. They fall in love. Soon, it's realized that Mac is more to the island than a scientist, and certainly more important to the women than ever could be imagined.

Book three follows Mia, the witch who owns the bookstore and who is most involved with her powers. She soon rekindles a long-ago romance with a male witch who has returned to his home on the island hoping to win Mia's love again, after abandoning her a decade before. Basically, the legend of the Three Witches is that they all died for various reasons and the last thing the last living sister did was create this island to protect her daughters to come. In each book, history repeats itself for the three women narrators and they will each face their own demons and decide their fates. It was very cool and I read the first two books while in Florida that week, and the final book just after we returned home. It made for a nice read by the beach!

Alright! I'm caught up! I am currently reading book one in my mom's favorite book series of all time...which is a HUGE statement. That woman and her reading...shwew! I am really excited about it and cannot wait to tell you all about it! :)